Acts 14:5-23

Misguided Worship

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

December 10, 2017First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

What’s the number one thing?

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The Glory of God!

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1 Corinthians 10:31

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

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December Memory Verse:

John 1:1414 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

References:

• Stott, John R. W., The Message of Acts (Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, USA, 1994).• ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible (Wheaton,

IL, 2008)• Unless otherwise stated, scriptures are quoted from the

ESV.•Maier, Paul L., EUSEBIUS: The Church History (Kregel

Publications, Grand Rapid, MI, 2007).• Jews for Jesus, www.jewsforjesus.org.

Introduction to The Book of Acts:

• Luke is considered the author of The Book of Acts.• Luke was writing as an historian and not a theologian. •He records the points of the sermons of Peter and

Paul, but provides no deep theological discussions.•Paul provides the theology of the events and sermons

in his letters and epistles.• Luke may have accompanied Paul on journeys.

Introduction to Acts 14 (47 AD):

•Paul is on his First Missionary Journey with Barnabas.• In Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas were driven out of

Antioch by the Jews.• They travel to Iconium and preach to the Jews and

Gentiles, but flee because of threats on their lives.•People accept Christ everywhere they preach.

Acts 14:5-7

5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them (Paul and Barnabas) and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

The Ruins at Lystra:

Questions to consider as we read Acts 14:

•Why did Paul heal a paralytic man?•Why did Lystra have an unusual worship of the pagan

Greek gods Zeus and Hermes?•Why was Paul’s sermon different in Lystra?•Was Paul raised from the dead in Lystra?•Who became a believer in this chaotic scene and later

became a missionary with Paul?

Acts 14:8-10

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.

Paul heals a paralytic man:

• There was no Jewish Synagogue in Lystra for Paul to present the Gospel.• The Holy Spirit led Paul to this man who was prepared

to receive the Gospel and healing.•Many people witnessed the healing and listened to

Paul & Barnabas.•Paul and Barnabas did not speak Lycaonian and were

not aware of the people’s reactions.

Acts 14:11-13

11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

Zeus Worship In Lystra:

•King of the Olympian gods and the supreme deity in the Greek Religion (Greek Mythology).•Considered the Father and god of thunder and ‘cloud

gatherer’ (weather).• Zeus was worshipped by fire and sacrificing an animal. • The garland was a wreath made of wild olive leaves

and presented to a victor.

Statue of Zeus:

Temple To Zeus in Lystra:

Oxen with Garlands:

Myth in Lystra – Urban Legend:

• Latin poet Ovid in Metamorphoses (40 years earlier).• Story of Jupiter (Zeus) and his son Mercury (Hermes)

visited Phargia disguised as mortal men.• They were rebuffed as they sought hospitality.•Offered lodging by elderly peasant couple (Philemon

& Baucis) who entertained them in their poverty.• The gods flooded all the area except their house.

Acts 14:14-15

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

Acts 14:16-18

16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

The Sacrifice at Lystra by Raphael c. 1515:

Paul’s Sermon to Gentiles (Acts 14:15-18):

•Could not focus on OT scriptures they did not know.• Focused on the natural world around them.•Begged them to turn from pagan idol worship to the

living and true God.• Spoke of the living God as the Creator of heaven,

earth and sea, and everything in and around them.

Paul’s Sermon to Gentiles (Acts 14:15-18):

•God has not been inactive since creating the world.•God has shown His kindness by providing rain, crops,

food, and filling their hearts with joy.• Luke does not record that the Gospel message was

presented by Paul during this sermon, but we assume salvation in Christ was presented because of the adverse reactions.

Paul’s Theological Presentation in Romans to the Gentiles:

•God reveals Himself to all people through a “general revelation” in nature.•We can see God’s invisible attributes and His eternal

power.•Man’s inclination is to worship the creation and not

the Creator.•Man is separated from God because of sin, but can be

reconciled to God through Christ.

Faith in Christ:

Romans 5:1-21 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Acts 14:19-20

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:21-23

21 When they had preached the gospel to that city (Derbe) and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul’s Departing Message to the Christians:

1. Strengthened the souls of the disciples.

2. Encouraged them to continue in the faith.

3. Said that through many tribulations (sufferings, hardships) we must enter the kingdom of God.

“through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

•What is the kingdom of God? • The gracious domain of divine rule over the believers’

hearts.• The daily living of the Holy Spirit in us.• Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Paul’s writings about “tribulations”:

•Romans 5:2b-52b we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

“through many tribulations”

• Through = continuing in time toward completion of a process (an active process).•God’s plan for the believer is to make us more like

Christ in every area of our life.• Sanctification = God’ perfecting process helping us to

become more like Christ.

Who was probably present at Paul’s sermon and stoning, and later became a missionary?

• Timothy became a believer and became Paul’s right-hand man on the Second Missionary Journey.• Timothy’s mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) were

both Jews who became believers.• Acts 16:1-2

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Paul’s words to Timothy:

•2 Timothy 4:55 As for you, always be sober- minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Sanctification – God is putting it together:

•Romans 8:28-2928 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.•Goal = Conformed to the image of Christ.

The Christian’s Secret Of A Happy Life by Hannah Whithall Smith in 1870:

•Chapter 12: Is God In Everything?• “For nearly everything in life comes to us through

human instrumentalities, and most of our trials are the result of somebody’s failure, or ignorance or carelessness, or sin. We know God cannot be the author of these things; and yet, unless He is the agent in the matter, how can we say to Him about it, “Thy will be done”?”

The Christian’s Secret Of A Happy Life by Hannah Whithall Smith in 1870:

• “The question here confronts us at once, “But is God in everything, and have we any warrant from the Scripture for receiving everything from His hand without regarding the second causes that may have been instrumental in bringing them about?””• “I answer to this, unhesitatingly, Yes. To the children of

God, everything comes directly from their Father’s hand, no matter who or what may have been the apparent agents. There are no second causes for them.”

Nearer My God To Thee - A Hymn by Sarah F. Adams:

Nearer, my God to thee, Nearer to Thee,Even though it be a cross, That raiseth me!Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God to Thee;Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.

Closing Scripture:

• John 16:3333 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Next Sunday

Acts 15:6-11; 24-31Available to All

December 17, 2017First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

John 3:1616 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 14:66 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

Romans 3:2323 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a23a For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life

to pay the penalty for our sin. • The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death

explained in Revelation 21:8.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

Revelation 21:88 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Romans 5:88 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

Romans 6:23b23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 21:77 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquers.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

Romans 10:9-109 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:1313 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Plan of Hope & Salvation:

Have questions or would like to know more?

Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/